Saturday, May 30, 2009

Collateral Damage

There seems to be a continuous supply of "Pitbull set on fire" stories in the news. Like most other severe cruelty cases, I try to avoid them. We all have our limits.

But the story of Phoenix, a female Pitbull in Baltimore who was saved when hero police officer Syreeta Teel saw her in flames and put the fire out using a piece of her own clothing, caught my attention:

The Pit Bull was brought to BARCS [Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter]. Despite the severe pain she was in, she wagged her tail and looked for comfort from the BARCS staff members.

[...]

She has suffered horrific burns over 95% of her body. The fire stripped the fur and flesh from her small figure.

[...]

Phoenix has a long road ahead of her. Her injuries are vast and she is at risk for infection and in severe pain.[...]There is a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who are responsible for setting fire to the dog in Southwest Baltimore, in the 1700 Block of Calhoun Street, on Wednesday, May 27th. All tips are confidential. Call 410-396-4698 and ask for the Animal Enforcement Officer Supervisor at the Bureau of Animal Control.

I have no idea what motivated the sicko(s) who set this dog on fire. But I got to thinking. Baltimore has a history of BSL (now repealed). And certainly one doesn't have to look too hard in the MSM to find sensationalized - and sometimes totally inaccurate - stories about Pitbull maulings. Is there a collective price to pay for demonizing an entire breed of dog based upon the actions of a small percentage of irresponsible owners? Phoenix can't talk of course, but I sure would like to hear her thoughts.

To donate to the Franky Fund which is being used to pay for Phoenix's care, please click here.

2 comments:

Dogfighting, and the acquisition of pit bulls by morons, has INCREASED since HSUS started sensationalizing and publicizing (in the name of stamping it out). Ditto in England since the passage if the DDA (which outlaws pit bull entirely)

And of course there's the the horrendous OFFICIAL cruelty of places like Denver where they massacre any dog that looks like it might be something that some ACO thinks might be a pit bull.

Followers

Want Widget?

Kibbles 'n Tidbits

South Carolina Code of Laws - Title 47, Chapter 3, Article 13, Section 47-3-710: (C) An animal is not a "dangerous animal" solely by virtue of its breed or species.

***

MYTH: American Pit Bull Terriers lock their jaws.

Dr. Brisbin: "The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog.

There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of "locking mechanism" unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier.

***

National Research Council has a pdf pamphlet available called "Your Dog's Nutritional Needs - A Science-Based Guide for Pet Owners"

***

A little book to bring comfort: The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog by Eugene O'Neill

***

NOTICE: The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer. The author is a citizen of the United States and therefore communications are protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Any attempt to infringe on that right, whether actual or threatened, will be dealt with accordingly.